Nikkor SC 5cm 1.4 vs 7A 50mm 1.1

[Huss]

During a recent foray oop norf, I happened to have my Nikon S2 and a Leica M3.
The lens on the S2 was the Nikkor SC 5cm 1.4, with a 7A 50 1.1 on the Leica.

I've always enjoyed the results I have received from the Nikkor but never obsessed over the actual image quality. Shots looked good.
This time though, I was using Silberra Orta50 orthochrome film - a film new to me - and so checked over the images. I was really bummed to find that the Nikkor was sharp in the center, but blurry/smeary on the left and right edges.

Normally I wouldn't care, but I took some landscape shots with it and, well, darn it.

I had the same film in the M3, and while the landscape shots were not the same they were close enough to see that the 7A has excellent sharpness in the center and maintained decent sharpness (good enough for large prints) in the corners.

Now I am thinking of replacing the Nikkor with the CV 50 3.5. Cuz frankly I'm not happy with the performance off center. I looked back at older pics I took with this lens (different film stock) and sure enough, same thing. I guess I never paid attention to it before because those shots had the center of attention in the, umm, center.

Examining the lens, mechanically it has zero issues. It is in beautiful shape. Ah well, guess this is why Leica dominated/dominates the 35mm rangefinder market.

 

[Huss]

Nikkor 5cm 1.4 @ f8



Crop from right edge:

 

[Huss]

7A 50 1.1 @ f11




Crop from right edge

 

[Huss]

The thing is, with the 7A shot I focussed on the bridge which is closer than the trees etc in the crop. So the crop is actually a little out of focus and still it is much sharper/non smeary than the Nikkor lens which was focussed at infinity.
Of course focus is not the issue here, but the image smearing.

 

[splitimageview]

The 1.4 looks whacked. That is not normal for a (Sonnar) Nikkor at f/8

 

[james.liam]

Did it behave differently in the past?

 

[Huss]

Did it behave differently in the past?

reviewing older images, no. And it is evenly balanced like that on both sides.

 

[james.liam]

reviewing older images, no. And it is evenly balanced like that on both sides.

DAG will work on this lens and he has a collimator if needed. Had the LTM version he did a CLA on.

 

[Huss]

DAG will work on this lens and he has a collimator if needed. Had the LTM version he did a CLA on.

What can be done if it is pin sharp in the center but evenly blurry on the edges? Of note this is only apparent at distance/infinity type shots.
It looks great at close to mid distance shots.

 

[Bingley]

Your sample photos from the Nikkor indicate that it was cloudy, maybe even a little dark. Were you shooting at a wide aperture? I'm wondering whether doing so with a Sonnar design lens resulted in loss of sharp focus on the edges of the image. Just a thought.

BTW: That's Donner Lake, right?

 

[Highway 61]

The main defect of the Nikkor-S-C 5cm f/1.4 is vignetting (aka light fall off). Even at f/8 all of mine (I used to own four of them, just kept one, because one is enough) were still vignetting with color slide films (more exposure sensitive than negatives). But none of them ever produced images with blurry off-center areas like yours does. Even at wider apertures.

Not only does it produce blurry corners, but there is a strange ghosting effect there too. And the problem starts quite close to the center of the image, it doesn't affect the actual image corners only.

I would bet it suffers from Canada balsam separation around the edges of the rear group elements. This is not an uncommon problem with that lens.

 

[Huss]

Your sample photos from the Nikkor indicate that it was cloudy, maybe even a little dark. Were you shooting at a wide aperture? I'm wondering whether doing so with a Sonnar design lens resulted in loss of sharp focus on the edges of the image. Just a thought.

BTW: That's Donner Lake, right?

I checked sunny landscape type images where it was shot at 1/250 F11 and same thing.
Yep, Donner Lake! It was freakin' freezing Mr. Bigglesworth!

 

[Huss]

The main defect of the Nikkor-S-C 5cm f/1.4 is vignetting (aka light fall off). Even at f/8 all of mine (I used to own four of them, just kept one, because one is enough) were still vignetting with color slide films (more exposure sensitive than negatives). But none of them ever produced images with blurry off-center areas like yours does. Even at wider apertures.

Not only does it produce blurry corners, but there is a strange ghosting effect there too. And the problem starts quite close to the center of the image, it doesn't affect the actual image corners only.

I would bet it suffers from Canada balsam separation around the edges of the rear group elements. This is not an uncommon problem with that lens.

I'll check the lens tonight for rear balsam separation, but interestingly this behaviour does not show at mid-distance or closer. And it seems unusual that it is so balanced.

 

[Huss]

Here's a fun comparo. At the exact same time (ok maybe 30 seconds apart) I took the same pic with a Samsung ECX1 p&s but using Kodak BW400CN film. The Nikon shot used Silberra 50.

Samsung pic on top, Nikon underneath






The Samsung pic is sharp corner to corner...

 

[Erik van Straten]

The best thing to do is to buy an S Skopar 50mm f/2.5 for your S2 if you want a sharp lens. I mean sharp. And zero distortion.


Nikon S2, S Skopar 50mm f/2.5.

 

[Huss]

Erik I think I will go for the 50 3.5 instead. It is meant to be their best RF lens. I already have the 50 2.5 in M mount. I have used the 3.5 before and loved the results (M mount version) but returned it as B&H had sold me one with an insect in it!

 

[Erik van Straten]

But the S Skopar has more speed and a more juicy look because of the seven elements. The Heliar only has five, no, six (insect included).



Erik.

 

[Huss]

The pics I took w the 3.5 looked stunning. Plus I can adapt it via Amedeo to use on M. Plus already have the 2.5 in M. Plus the 3.5 in Nikkor mount is way cheaper’!

 

[Huss]

And I will keep the 1.4 for low light.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I bought the S Skopar really cheap, but some time ago.

I don't think it is the same lens as the Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5, it is much sharper and does not have that very, very tiny amount of distortion. The coating is different too.

Show us your pics with the 3.5!

Erik.